Committee backs SCR 102 to request after‑action review of Idaho’s COVID response; $10,000 estimated cost

The House State Affairs Committee voted to send SCR 102 to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation after Senator Foreman told members the resolution requests that the Legislative Council appoint a committee to investigate Idaho state government's response to the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Senator Foreman said the resolution seeks an "after action" review to compile the fragmented public record into a single report that could guide future preparedness. "It simply represents a request for useful information to be employed if we must respond to a similar future scribe," he said, adding the resolution "does not seek to point fingers or impart blame."

Committee members debated scope and objectivity. Representative Dygert questioned whether consensus was achievable; Foreman said a careful, academic approach could produce useful findings. Representative Barbieri asked why a committee would add to an already public record; Foreman replied that public records exist but are piecemeal and that "the average constituent isn't gonna put in the time or effort" to assemble them.

Representative Keeley proposed a substitute motion to send SCR 102 to general orders, arguing the resolution lacked explicit scientific and public‑health expertise; the substitute failed. Several committee members discussed whether the interim committee would have subpoena power and whether the $10,000 estimate would be sufficient; Foreman said the $10,000 figure came from consultation with counsel and assumed an in‑house review without outside experts. Representative Scott moved to send the concurrent resolution to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.

The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the chair recorded Representative Achilles and Representative Kasner as voting no on the record. The chair then adjourned the committee.